Ball-cock.



Patented May 20, I902.

F. F. FLAGG.

BALL COCK (Application filed Apr. 22, 1901.)

. r W N AM u No. 700,3l6.

{No Model) Farr/@ 5 "cams PfTEM c0, Fnmo-Lrma. WASHINGTON. o c

I UNITED STATES PATENT. O FI FREDIF. FLAee,'oF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

BALL-COCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.'700,316, dated May 20, 1902.

Application filed April 22, 1901.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRED F. FLAGG, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Worcester, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts; have invented certain new and useful Improvements inBall-Oocks, of which the following'is'a specification.

This invention relates to float-controlled valves for opening and closing an orifice through which water passes to supply a tank.

The mechanism to be described is an improvement upon my former invention of the same class patented April 23, 1901, and numbered 672,835. The improvements I have made upon the former construction are as follows; First, instead of employing a. solid metallic bushing in the valve-easing to prevent discharge of water at the float end of the faucet I use an inter'mi-ttingly expanding and contracting washer or gland; second,.l provide automatic means whereby all cutting of the valve-seat is prevented. This latter is by far the-important feature of my invention. I

Inan ordinary water-faucet of the screwplug variety the operator by a turn on. the handle can almostinstantly shut ofi the fluid from a full stream. In theusual construction of floats or ball-cocks this quick action is impossible, since it is thecomparatively slow ascent of the float that actuates the valve. Henceit is that in a ball-cock when the valve is open, perhaps not more than ahundredth of an inch,that the greatest wear or cutting of the valve-seat occurs. The wa ter seeks to flovt into the tank through the narrowing opening, and the velocity of the emitted stream is enormously increased. This condition, together with the presence of gritty particles in the water, wears hits out of the valve-seat, destroying the seat long be fore the other parts of the faucet show signs of wear. Inventors have tried air-chambers to provide for a quick valve-closure; but my construction is radically different and, unlike air-chambers, isperfectlyreliable.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of the device when the valve is closed. Fig. 2 is a side view showing construction of the ex: pansible gland. and washers holding it in place. Figs. 3 and 4 are'details. Fig. 5 is a modification.

semi N5. 56,886. (No model.)

screw-threaded and carries a metallic'screwthreaded washer X. A rubber orother elastic washer X is positioned between X and X which latter is not threaded and is provided with arms X Washer X is loose upon the stem and serves to compress X against the stationary washer X to expand X. The valve-stem terminates in a shouldered head 6, bifurcated to provide the two end pieces 7 7. These end pieces are bored, as at 8. A cylindrical actuator 9 is positioned in the holes 8 loosely. At a suitable distance from its aXialcenter the actuator is bored, as at 10. Passing through 10 loosely is a bolt 11, provided with a nut 12. A float is socured to the actuator bya rod B at 13, which point of connection is at the center of the actuator, and side strains are thus prevented. On either side of the actuator is cast a pin X These pins when the float is at itslowest position, as shown in Fig.2, bear against the arms X throwing X forward enough tosqueeze X against X. 'Upon the rod B- is loosely fitted an abutment 14, slotted, as at 14.. upon the rod and serves to guidethe rider 16 up the slot 14.. This stop also compensates movable abutment-.14., at the other against the nuts 18 19, which are employed not only to hold the'spring, but to tightenor loosen it, as the pressure is low or high. The function of the spring is to keepthe float depressed on its upward movement, and in this An adjustable stop 15 is tightly secured for wear of the parts by being loosened and manner to resist the buoyant tendency of the Water flowing into the tank. In this invention it will be noted that bearing-plates 7 are furnished with inclines at their rear ends.

The operation may now be described. When the float is at the position shown in Fig. 2, water from the main is flowing into the tank. The float rises, and the rider 16 a cylindrical piece of metal engages the inclines of 7. This forces the movable abutment 14: against the spring, compressing the spring. This compression of the spring, acting upon nuts 18 19, forces the float downward in the water against the constantly-acting buoyant force of the fluid. When the rider has reached the top of the inclines, a practically full flow of water is entering the tank, and up to this point there can be no cutting of the seat. The instant the rider passes the edge of the inclines the spring is released from compression, the rider is thrown out of the way up the slot 14, and the float from its depressed position in the water is instantly acted upon by the buoyant forces of the water, which were till then greatly counteracted by the compressed spring. The valve is shot into place, and the full flow of water ceases at once. As in my patent, the valve is closed by the rod l3 turning the actuator about its axis 11 and shoving the shouldered head 6 of the valve forward with a rolling motion.

It will be seen there can be no cutting of the seat, because there is no chance for the sizzling of a thin stream of great velocity through a slowly-narrowing aperture. The operation of closing this valve is practically instantaneous and is of necessity reliable from day to day, since it is the buoyant force of the water that acts upon the float and the valve. The nuts 18 19 provide an adjust ment for different pressures of water. The stop provides the adjustment for wear of inclines or slot. When the float is at its lowest position, the pins X on the actuator are, as shown in Fig. 2, at their farthest position of forward movement and bear strongly upon the arms X of the movable washer X The rubber gland X is compressed between X and X and expanded radially, completely filling the bore of the casing and rendering it impossible for the running water to force its way through the rear of the casing. These pins keep the gland sufflciently expanded until the rider has passed the edges of the inclines. Then the force against X is relaxed and the rubber gland contracts. This construction obviates all necessity for a tightlyfitting bushing, as in my former construction, and is much cheaper than such a bushing. All wear of any importance comes upon the gland, which is easily replaced. It will be observed that the expansion of the gland occurs only when the stream from the main is entering and that the gland continues in its normal or unexpanded condition when the valve is closed and the stream is shut elf.

In the modification shown in Fig. 5 the arms X are lengthened and the bolt 11 urges them forward as the float descends.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a flushingtank, the combination of a valve, a float in connection with the valve, a spring, at one end in operative connection with the float and at the other end in engagement with an adjustable abutment, means coacting with the abutment whereby the spring is progressively compressed during the rise of water in the tank substantially as set forth.

2. In a flushing-tank, the combination of a valve, a float in connection with the valve, resilient means to submerge the float for a predetermined interval in opposition to the buoyant force of the rising water, an adjustable abutment coacting with said resilient means, a rider operatively connected with the abutment and the valve to contract the said resilient means as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a flushing-tank, the combination ola valve, a rod and float in connection therewith, a spring operatively surrounding said rod, an adjustable and movable abutment in contact with one end of the spring, means whereby the abutment is actuated to contract said spring as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a flushing-tank, the combination ofa valve, a rod and float in connection therewith, a spring surrounding said rod and in operative connection therewith, to submerge said float against the buoyant force of the inflowing water, an adjustable and movable mechanism loosely held upon the rod and cooperating with the valve and spring to contract said spring and thus submerge the float substantially as set forth.

5. In a flushing-tank, the combination with a valve -stem of an elastic gland, a loose washer, provided with arms, bearing against said gland, operating means for said valvestem, one or more lugs secured to said valvestem-operating means, and bearing against said washer-arms to expand said gland substantially as described.

In testimony whereof Ihave affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRED F. FLAGG.

Witnesses:

JOHN W. Wool), MICHAEL J. LYDEN. 

